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Police Officer

James E. Meeks Jr.

Detroit Police Department — Detroit, MI

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch May 20, 1960

Age 32

Tour of Duty 9 yrs

Badge 1434

The Vigil Panel 95 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 249

Incident

Police Officer James Meeks was shot and killed while responding to a robbery in progress at the Hi-Lo Super Market at 3027 Bagley Avenue around 8:15 p.m. He and his partner were pulling into their precinct when they were dispatched to the call. When the officers arrived at the scene, Officer Meeks exited the car and was immediately confronted by the armed suspect. Officer Meeks was able to shoot the suspect several times, but was fatally shot in the chest. The suspect, a convicted felon, was then shot and killed by the other officer as he reached for his weapon. The female accomplice was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. Officer Meeks was a U.S. Navy veteran of the Korean War and served with the Detroit Police Department for nine years, assigned to the Youth Bureau. He was awarded the Detroit Police Department Distinguished Medal of Valor posthumously.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two sons.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MI-6F8623D0
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Navy. One record, 2 gates. James is one person.

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Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Police Officer Meeks gave the Detroit Police Department 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Detroit community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Detroit Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Detroit, Wayne County, MI

Platform Identity detpd.wayne.mi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 20, 1960

Tour of Duty 9 yrs

Age 32

Badge Number 1434

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun

Military Service

James E. Meeks Jr. served in the U.S. Navy before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Police Officer James E. Meeks Jr. is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,759 officers honored here.

In MI, 426 of 718 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59.3% of this state's fallen. That is 59.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Detroit Police Department, 177 of 250 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 70.8% of this agency's fallen.

Detroit Police Department

177

of 250 officers

70.8% Felonious

MI — Statewide

426

of 718 officers

59.3% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,759 officers

0% Felonious